PLANS FOR THE FUTURE - 3

WHAT NEXT?

The previous two pages have briefly explained our vision. We shall do the planning ourselves but modern health & safety regulations mean that for some jobs we’ll need to employ specialists. How long it will all take to complete will depend largely on our fund-raising efforts with grant-giving bodies. Phases 1 and 2 are virtually complete, but phase 3 is a more long-term affair!

Keep coming back to this page in the future to keep up to date on progress!!

If you'd like to help us achieve our vision, please contact the Museum Director, Stuart Dewey, on 01491 651127 or by e-mail to museum@piepowder.co.uk.

We're looking for people with ideas, energy and, above all, enthusiasm. How about it?

PROGRESS UPDATE - 2007

Last year we opened with a smart new Museum Shop with a new Reception Desk and lots of bookshelving for our very popular second-hand books.

New display lighting was installed throughout the downstairs rooms and, as intended, these changes have really transformed the immediate impressions of the visitor as they enter the building.

PROGRESS UPDATE - 2008

This year we have completed the new Glass Lobby, which will allow us to keep the front door open without all the unpleasant draughts, noise, dust and heat loss! (To see what it looks like click here). The AIM Sustainability grant of nearly £5,000 funded this and new external signage. We have also bought a smart new credenza - a long display unit for our shop and a matching shorter unit. This means our display of sales products is now at a more convenient height and stock can be store underneath.

There has also been progress on Phase 3 - planning for the Education Extension in the back yard. The overgrown sycamore trees have been removed, with the agreement of the SODC Tree experts. We have explored some first ideas with an architect before we take these first thoughts to the SODC Conservation Officer and the Town Council for their preliminary comments. Here are the current sketch plans (ground floor on the left, first floor on the right):